The Princeton Township Committee delayed action, Monday, that would commit Princeton Borough to provide 85 parking spaces in the vicinity of a new library.
By: Jane Karlicek
The Princeton Township Committee delayed action on a resolution Monday night that would commit Princeton Borough to provide 85 parking spaces in the vicinity of a new public library.
If adopted as passed by the Borough Council, the resolution could begin to pave the way toward resolving one of the most controversial issues surrounding plans for the new library — providing adequate parking for patrons.
The resolution, which was unanimously approved by the Borough Council on May 11, was pulled from Monday night’s Township Committee agenda at the last minute by Princeton Township Mayor Phyllis Marchand.
“We need a few more days to discuss it,” the mayor said, explaining that it came into committee members’ hands after they had already held their agenda meeting last Wednesday. Mayor Marchand also noted that Committeeman Steven Frakt was absent last night, adding that this was an item that needed the full committee’s input.
It is not known when the Township Committee will discuss the resolution.
The resolution includes an agreement for the borough to provide 85 parking spaces for library patrons within 400 feet of the new building, as well as 25 spaces for staff use at a “reasonable” distance from the library.
The resolution represents a step in attempting to solve the overall downtown parking problem and addressing the library’s parking needs at an expanded facility.
Earlier Monday, before the item was pulled from the agenda, Township Committee members Bill Enslin and Roz Denard said they planned to discuss some “concerns” they had with the ordinance at the Township Committee meeting. They did not specify what those concerns were.
In a letter to Mayor Marchand, Borough Mayor Marvin Reed wrote, in part, “We believe it (the resolution) responds to the request of the Library Trustees and the Township Committee for the Borough to commit itself to provide sufficient access to the Library so that the Trustees can proceed further with fund-raising and other plans for expansion and replacement.”
In other business last night, the Township Committee introduced an ordinance to spend $90,000 to complete about 600 feet of Bunn Drive. The project would extend the roadway from its current terminus at the Campbell Woods development to Poor Farm Road. The $90,000 will come from the township’s off-tract improvement fund.
The township may never have to spend that money, however. There are three remaining lots in that vicinity owned by Princeton Research Lands, Inc.
“Those three lots will fund the completion of Bunn Drive,” said Township Attorney Edwin Schmierer. Either Princeton Research Lands will pay the $90,000 to complete the roadway in advance of sale of the tracts (and the ultimate developer will repay Princeton Research Lands) or the township will pay for the project and be compensated directly by the ultimate developer, he explained.
Construction on Bunn Drive has begun and the roadway is expected to be completely connected to Poor Farm Road by December 2000, Mr. Schmierer said. A public hearing on the $90,000 expenditure is scheduled for June 26.